What is it? Identify the medium.
Who did it? Identify the artist.
What do we know about the artist?
Is there a particular style demonstrated here?
What country was this piece created in? Are there any obvious cultural influences?
Religious influences?
When in history was this created?
Is there any relationship to historical events of the time?
Describing
What do you see?
In careful detail describe what you see and where you see it?
Is there a predominant colour scheme?
What shapes are most noticeable? Repeated?
Is there a particular quality of line used?
Where are the light, medium, and dark areas?
Are there predominant textures?
Where does your eye want to rest?
Interpreting
What do you think the story is behind the image? (Consider all the components of the image in formulating your answer)
Do you think the artist was conveying a particular message? If so, how or why?
What do you see as another possible story which comes from this image?
How did you arrive at this interpretation?
How does this image make you feel? Why?
Identification
What is it? Identify the medium.
Who did it? Identify the artist.
What do we know about the artist?
Is there a particular style demonstrated here?
What country was this piece created in? Are there any obvious cultural influences?
Religious influences?
When in history was this created?
Is there any relationship to historical events of the time?
Describing
What do you see?
In careful detail describe what you see and where you see it?
Is there a predominant colour scheme?
What shapes are most noticeable? Repeated?
Is there a particular quality of line used?
Where are the light, medium, and dark areas?
Are there predominant textures?
Where does your eye want to rest?
Interpreting
What do you think the story is behind the image? (Consider all the components of the image in formulating your answer)
Do you think the artist was conveying a particular message? If so, how or why?
What do you see as another possible story which comes from this image?
How did you arrive at this interpretation?
How does this image make you feel? Why?
Judgment
Do you like this image? Why or why not?
(Courtesy of the Vancouver Art Gallery)
What do you see?
Phillip Yenawine - Museum of Modern Art